Booklet, method and apparatus for producing the same

ABSTRACT

The invention disclosed is directed to a method, an apparatus for manufacturing and apparatus for using a booklet, folder or wrapper comprising two substantially parallel covers (1,2) united with a spine (3) at crease lines (5,6). A strip (4) of adhesive binder is attached to the inside of the spine (3) and extends only between the crease lines (5,6). The strip of adhesive (4) is intended to be activated to provide adhesion between itself and one edge of a sheaf of sheets of material which are inserted between the covers (2,3). Two opposing longitudinal side edges of the (4a, 4b) of the strip of adhesive (4) are united with the respective covers (1,2) before the sheaf of sheets is inserted between the covers (2,3).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a booklet, a folder, covers or the likeand a method and apparatus for their manufacture. More specifically, theinvention refers to a folder or the like, comprising two substantiallyparallel covers, which with the aid of crease lines are connected to aspine on the inside of which and solely between the crease lines thereis attached a strip of binding agent, the strip being intended to beactivated for providing adhesion between it and one edge of a sheaf ofpapers inserted between the covers.

BACKGROUND ART

Booklets, etc. of the kind described in the introduction are alreadyknown in many embodiments. Examples of such booklets and how they aremanufactured and used are to be found inter alia in the U.S. Pat. No.3,973,787, 4,129,471, 4,289,330 and 4,367,061.

In the last-mentioned specification there is described and illustratedhow a glue strip is attached to the inside of the booklet spinesubstantially simultaneously with crease lines being formed on eitherside of the strip, this giving, inter alia, the advantage that the gluestrip is very carefully oriented between the crease lines, wherebyfolding the booklet along them can be performed without obstruction fromthe glue strip, and it is ensured at the same time that the edges of allthe sheets of paper later inserted in the booklet are joined to themelted glue strip along the entire length of the spine, while at thesame time the booklet in the area of the glue strip is given, bothinside and outside, a high-quality implementation without irregularitiesand other deficiencies deleterious to its appearance.

A disadvantage burdening the booklet according to the U.S. Pat. No.4,367,061 is, however, that outside sheets in a sheaf which is insertedin the booklet for joining to the inside of the booklet spine may comebetween the glue strip and the covers, particularly for the reason thatthe covers are not usually parallel, but diverge from the spine. Thisresults in at least the outer sheets not completely coming into contactwith the glue strip during the binding operation, in turn resulting inthat they can come loose from the finished booklet.

To remove the disadvantage mentioned in the previous paragraph it hasbeen proposed to apply binder and/or guide means on the insides of thecovers in the vicinity of the creasing lines between the covers and thespine, as is illustrated in the three first-mentioned of the cited U.S.patent specifications, thus to ensure that all sheets in the sheaf willcome into engagement against the strip on the spine. In the case wherebinding agent is used for this purpose, only the two outmost sheets inthe sheaf will be joined to it, while the next outmost sheets andpossibly further sheets in the sheaf which have come outside the gluestrip will not be bound. Furthermore, the use of binding agent on thecovers means an increased cost and a more complicated manufacturingmethod. In the case where guide means are used, the available spacebetween the covers is decreased and an unutilised gap occurs on eitherside of the sheaf. In the case where the binding agent on both coversand on the strip forms a cohesive band, creasing along the creasinglines or their preparation is made more difficult as well as there beingthe consumption of an unnecessary large amount of binding agent.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is one object of the present invention at least partially to removethe disadvantages with previous folders, booklets, covers and the like,as well as the disadvantages with the methods and apparatus for theirmanufacture.

This object is attained by the invention having been given thedistinguishing features disclosed in the characterizing portions of theclaims.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIGS. 1 and 2 are end views of a folder, a booklet, a cover or the like(in the following designated booklet) according to two embodiments inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a previously known, unfolded booklet,which is used as starting product in manufacturing the booklet inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 4a is an end view of a modified portion of the booklet as shown inthe lower left-hand corner of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the booklet according to FIG. 3 in a foldedcondition.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view obliquely from above of an apparatus forproducing the booklet according to FIG. 1 or 2.

FIG. 6 is an end view of a part of the apparatus according to FIG. 5with a booklet inserted therein.

FIG. 7 is an end view corresponding to the one in FIG. 6 butschematically illustrating a second embodiment of the apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a schematic end view illustrating an alternative embodiment ofthe apparatus in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 9 is a view seen obliquely from above illustrating an apparatus forproducing a blank for the booklet illustrated in FIG. 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Two preferred embodiments of the booklet in accordance with the presentinvention, as it is produced by one of the apparatus illustrated inFIGS. 5-8, is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 1 the folder is provided with two covers 1 and 2, and a spine 3,which can be made in one piece, e.g. from carton or as separate sheetsof carton and/or plastics, which are connected in some suitable way toeach other. A binding agent in the form of a strip 4 is fastened to theinside of the spine 3. The binding agent consists of such asthermoplastics, hot melt glue or the like, which is in a solid state atroom temperature, and on heating to a given temperature melts to becomemore or less liquid. The strip 4 has a rectangular or trapezoidal crosssection, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, and is immediately inside thecrease lines 5 and 6 between the covers 1, 2 and spine 3. These creaselines 5 and 6 are suitably provided by creasing in connection withattaching the strip 4 to the inside of the spine and forming the creaselines 7 and 8 at a short distance from the lines 5, 6. A method andapparatus for achieving creasing and the fastening of the strip isdisclosed in the U.S. patent specification 4,367,061 and also in FIG. 9.There is thus achieved that the strip 4 is oriented exactly between thelines 5, 6 so that the subsequent folding can take placeun-obstructedly, without any obstruction from the strip and without thecovers bulging between the lines 5, 7 and 6, 8.

Both opposing longitudinal side edges 4a and 4b of the strip 4, whichare at right angles to the spine 3, are united with the insides of thecovers 1 and 2 in accordance with the invention. This union is made inone or two possible ways, namely by the strip for having been fasteneddirectly to the covers 1, 2, or with the aid of some suitable bindingagent of a different kind, which does not require heating for adhesion,e.g. a cold glue, being applied to the strip before the covers arefolded along the crease lines 5 and 6 in a direction towards the strip4.

After the union between the strip 4 and the covers 1 and 2, the latterwill be substantially parallel and at right angles to the strip 4, ifthe crease lines 5 and 6 have small transverse extensions, and this isillustrated in FIG. 1. If these crease lines have greater extension thecovers 1 and 2 will converge somewhat from the strip, resulting in thatthe covers form guides in the area of the lines 7 and 8 for a sheaf ofpapers inserted in the booklet, and the risk of a sheaf with a thicknessgreater than the width of the strip 4 being inserted in the booklet isreduced.

A modified embodiment of the booklet is illustrated in FIG. 2, and herethe booklet mainly differs from the one in FIG. 1 by the strip, nowdenoted 9, having a trapezoidal-shaped cross section (i.e. a crosssection with two parallel sides and two converging sides) with both thelongitudinal nonparallel side edges 9a and 9b united with the covers 1'and 2'. In this way these covers, substantially between the linescorresponding to the lines 5, 7 and 6, 8 in FIG. 1, will converge in adirection away from the strip 9 to form a well-defined guide for a sheafof papers inserted in the booklet and will prevent a sheaf that is toothick from being inserted in it. In the case where the lines 5-8 in FIG.1, and corresponding lines in FIG. 2, are creased in the way illustratedin the Figures with crease lines, which are convex seen from the insideof the booklet, the outer sheets in a sheaf inserted in the booklet areprevented from fastening on the crease lines.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, as well as the one in FIG. 2,the strip 4 or 9 can have an upper surface which is not entirely flat.This upper surface can thus be convex, concave or may have some othersuitable contour. It may also be provided with a centrally situated U-or V-shaped recess or several such recesses with small transverseextension. To achieve the mentioned union between the strip 4 or 9 andthe covers 1 and 2, or 1' and 2' it is however necessary for the sideedges of the strip 4 or 9 to have such large surfaces that the mentionedunion can be made and maintained. The height of these surfaces shouldtherefore not be less than about 1 mm in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 3 there is illustrated the starting material used inmanufacturing the booklet according to FIG. 1 or 2, and therefore thebooklet illustrated in FIG. 1 will be the only one referred to in thefollowing. This starting material, which is substantially flat, includesthe covers 1, 2 and spine 3, these being either united to each other orformed integrally, the strip 4 fastened to the inside of the spine andthe crease lines 5-8. The starting material is known, and is illustratedin the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,061, where there is alsoillustrated an apparatus for manufacturing it.

In FIG. 4 the substantially flat material illustrated in FIG. 3 is nowillustrated folded along the crease lines 5 and 6, the folding havingbeen achieved with such as the folding means illustrated in the U.S.Pat. No. 4,557,714. As will be seen from FIG. 4, the covers 1 and 2 inthe vicinity of the spine 3 are spaced from the side edges 4a and 4b ofthe strip 4, since the booklet material has distanced itself from thestrip after folding, due to its elasticity at the crease lines 5, 6.

If a booklet with the cross section illustrated in FIG. 4 where to beused for accommodating a sheaf of papers, several sheets in this sheafcould be inserted between each of the covers 1 and 2 and the respectiveside edge 4a or 4b of the strip, the outmost of these sheets would notthen come into contact with the strip, and would thus not be attached tothe booklet in the subsequent activation of the strip, thus causing theaccompanying disadvantages accounted for in the introduction. In thecase where the strip comprises a thermoplastic or the like, thisactivation takes place by heating the strip and allowing it to coolafter the sheets have sunk into the softened strip. A more detaileddescription of the activation and an apparatus for providing it is foundin such as the U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,116.

An apparatus is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 for producing the bookletillustrated in FIGS. 1 or 2, in FIG. 5 the booklet being illustratedpartially inserted in the apparatus, and in FIG. 6 entirely inserted inthe apparatus. Before insertion the booklet has been suitably folded tothe configuration illustrated in FIG. 4.

The apparatus in FIGS. 5 and 6 includes a stand 10 placed on a floor,and on the stand there are mounted a motor 11, two upper plates 12 and13 and four lower plates, three of these plates 14-16 being visible. Thefourth plate is situated beside plate 16 and behind plate 14. Aplurality of pulleys 17 are rotatably mounted on the upper plate 12 and13 at mutual uniform spacing in the longitudinal direction of the stand,this spacing being less than the length of the booklet. The output shaftof the motor 11 is also provided with a pulley 18. With the aid of aline or cord 19 the pulley 18 drives the pulley 17 illustrated farthestto the left in FIG. 5, this pulley then driving the three nearestpulleys 17 via a cord 20. Of the three pulleys 17 just mentioned, boththose furthest to the right in FIG. 5 drive the remaining pulleys 17 viaidentical cords 21.

Pressure rollers are mounted on the shafts of all the pulleys 17 and areaccommodated in recesses in the plate 14-16 and the fourth plate. Thetwo nearest pressure rollers 22 and 23 are illustrated in FIG. 6, andthe distance between such pressure roller pairs 22, 23 is less than theexterior width of a finished booklet. In a zone (at a) immediately abovethe rollers 22, 23 the distance between opposing plates 14, 15 and 16and the fourth plate is just as great as the exterior width of thebooklet, whereas in a zone (at b) above zone (a) the distance issubstantially smaller. The plates 14 and 15 are provided with electricheating elements 24 and 25 along their entire length where zone a mergesinto zone b.

When the booklet has been inserted between the plates 14, 15 and bothforward pressure rollers 22, 23 in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 5 and6, the rollers will drive the booklet through the apparatus while thebooklet is retained between the plates, due to each roll pair squeezingthe booklet via chamfered edges urging the booklet upwards. During theforward travel of the booklet, when the covers 1, 2 are pressed againstthe side edges 4a and 4b of the strip 4, these side edges are heated bythe heating elements 24 and 25 via the covers and spine so that the sideedges become soft. When the booklet leaves the gap between the plates 14and 15 the side edges are so soft that they adhere to the covers 1 and2, which are simultaneously pressed against the side edges, thisadhesion being made permanent during the continued forward travel of thebooklet between the plate 16 and the fourth unillustrated plate, theselatter plates being insulated from the plates 14 and 15 and cool thebooklet, possibly by unillustrated cooling element. When the bookletleaves the apparatus, the covers 1 and 2 are permanently united with thestrip 4.

The apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 can be modified in differentways. For example, the pressure rollers 22, 23 can be replaced by driverollers for belts which are in contact with the covers 1 and 2 along thewhole of their length during travel through the apparatus. Neither dothe pressure rollers 22, 23 need to be driven, and they can be merelyrotatably mounted, thus not requiring the pulleys 17, 18, cords 19-21and motor 11, the booklet then being taken manually through theapparatus. In such an embodiment the pressure rollers 22, 23 can also bedispensed with, and the covers of the booklet can be pressed againsteach other merely by the plates 14-16 and the plate behind plate 16,while the booklet is pulled manually through the apparatus. In this casethe folder is also pressed upwards manually, or is pressed upwards by abolster mounted between the sides of the booklet and against the strip4. Instead of the heating elements 24, 25, other heating means can beused, such as hot air jets directed towards the side edges of the strip4.

Two elongate pressure blocks 26, 27 are illustrated in FIG. 7, theirlength somewhat exceeding that of the booklet, and they are movablemutually reciprocally in a manner not illustrated as is conventional inthe art. After inserting the booklet between the separated blocks 26, 27they are urged towards each other to press the covers 1, 2 against theside edges 4a, 4b of the strip 4, so that the booklet is given theconfiguration illustrated in FIG. 1 or 2. Before the blocks are movedtogether, the side edges can have been provided with some suitablebinder 4c (see FIG. 4a), e.g. a pressure-sensitive glue, which adheresthe covers in the pressing procedure mentioned. The union between theside edges and the covers can also take place by heating and subsequentcooling of the strip side edges, e.g. by the blocks 26, 27 beingprovided with heating elements corresponding to those illustrated inFIG. 6 and by the provision of some suitable cooling means after theblocks. If the strip has a rectangular cross section and its edges areheated during the pressing operation, the blocks may be formed such thatthe strip is deformed and the booklet is given the configurationillustrated in FIG. 2.

According to a further embodiment of the apparatus in accordance withthe invention, which is illustrated in FIG. 8, the not yet foldedbooklet illustrated in FIG. 3 can be folded simultaneously with thecovers 1 and 2 being united with the side edges 4a, 4b of the strip 4,even though the folder is not provided with creased lines. In this casethe booklet is placed on a substructure 30, provided with a slot 31,somewhat wider than the strip 4, so that the strip 4 is immediatelyabove the slot and facing upwards. A punch 32, which is just as wide asthe strip 4, is given a movement downwards in FIG. 8 such as to pressthe strip 4 and spine 3 downwards in the slot, thus causing the covers 1and 2 to be folded upwards along crease lines formed immediatelyadjacent either side. When the spine comes into engagement against thebottom of a recess 33, connecting up to the slot 31 and formed in aplate 34 insulated from the substructure 30, the covers 1 and 2 beingpressed against the side edges 4a, 4b of the strip, said edges areheated by the heating elements 35 and 36 so that the edges at leastpartially melt. When the punch 32 and booklet are taken back upwards toa position where the side edges 4a and 4b are in the slot 31, the sideedges are cooled by the cool or cooled side walls of the slot. Afterrequired cooling, the punch and booklet are taken still further upwards,whereupon the finished booklet is removed.

Instead of allowing the apparatus according to FIG. 8b to includeheating elements 35, 36 and plate 34, glue 4c (see FIG. 4a) can beapplied to the side edges 4a and 4b before, or in connection with, thenot yet folded booklet being placed on the substructure 30, the covers 1and 2 then being folded along the side edges of the strip 4 and unitedwith these when the punch 32 presses the booklet down into the slot 31.

A still further embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with theinvention is illustrated in FIG. 9. The apparatus comprises asubstructure 40, on which there is mounted a plate 41 and a sprayingmeans 42. The plate 41 is provided with guide rails 43, which areadjustable in the horizontal plane, these guide rails being intended toalign a (carton) blank 44 for registering with creasing edges 45 and 46fastened to, and projecting above the substructure for forming creaselines 5 and 6. Crease lines 7 and 8 can be pre-formed in the blank 44.The spray means 42 comprises a piston cylinder device, the piston rod 47of which is connected to a spray jet 48, which is supplied with liquidglue (such as hot melt lim) in a manner not illustrated. After thepiston rod 47 is moved from one end to the other end of the plate 41,with the jet 48 situated directly above the trough 49 formed by theedges 45 and 46, and has deposited therein a predetermined quantity ofbinder 50, the blank 44 is laid between the guide rails 43. A presspillow 51 mounted above the plate 41 is then lowered to press againstthe blank 44, thus causing the edges 45, 46 to form crease lines 5 and 6in it. Simultaneously with this, or immediately afterwards, the blank 44will come into contact with the binder 50, which is in the trough 48 inthe form of a more or less liquid strip, this strip then adhering to theblank. The blank 44 and strip now form an unfolded booklet similar tothe one illustrated in FIG. 3, but with the difference that the stripstill has not completely solidified.

Immediately after adhesion by the binder 50 (the strip) to the blank 44,the latter is folded to form the booklet illustrated in FIGS. 1, or 2,the remaining heat in the strip being utilised during folding to enablethe side edges 4a and 4b of the strip to adhere firmly to the covers 1and 2. This folding procedure may take place using any one of themethods described above with one of the apparatuses described above,either in the immediate vicinity of, or combined with the apparatusillustrated in FIG. 9. Such a combined apparatus can include: a) thebottom 52 in the trough 49 between the edges 45 and 46, this troughbeing displaceable vertically upwards from the position illustrated inFIG. 9, taking with it the not yet folded booklet after the press pillow51 has been removed sufficiently far from the plate 41, and b) thesubstructure 30 with the slot 31 in FIG. 8, when the bottom 52 in FIG. 9may be said to correspond to the punch 32 in FIG. 8, if this figure isviewed upside down. In an apparatus of the last mentioned kind, it isimportant that the binder 50 is not allowed to solidify completelybefore folding takes place, and displacement of the bottom 52 must takeplace immediately after the binder 50 is capable of carrying the blank44 (covers 1 and 2 and spine 3) or means must be arranged for carryingthe blank in some other way. The creasing edges 45, 46 may be heated toreduce the risk of cooling taking place too quickly or for reheating thecooled strip.

It also is envisioned that the apparatus of FIG. 9 can be used to applyan additional layer of binder 4c to the side edges 4a and 4b of thestrip for securing the strip to the covers as described above.

It will be seen from the drawings and the description of the presentinvention that different modification and embodiments thereof arepossible. Further modifications and embodiments are also possiblewithout departing from the inventive concept.

The invention is thus limited solely by what is disclosed in the claims.

We claim:
 1. Method of producing a folder or wrapper comprising twosubstantially parallel covers that are united with a spine at inner andouter pairs of crease lines, the spine being substantially perpendicularto the covers, and a strip of binder being rectangular or trapezoidal incross-section and having top and bottom surfaces and two opposinglongitudinal side edges, comprising the steps of attaching the strip atits bottom surface to the spine between the inner crease lines andactivating substantially only the two opposing longitudinal side edgesof the binder to bind the two opposing longitudinal side edges of thestrip to the covers.
 2. Method of producing a booklet, folder or wrappercomprising two substantially parallel covers that are united with aspine at inner and outer pairs of crease lines, comprising the steps ofattaching a strip of binder being rectangular or trapezodial incross-section and having two opposing longitudinal side edges, on theinside of the spine solely between the inner pair of crease lines,uniting the binder with the covers by activating the binder at the twoopposing longitudinal side edges of said binder strip to bind the edgesto the two covers and pressing the covers of the booklet against theside edges of the binder strip, and binding a sheaf of materials betweenthe covers, whereby the booklet, folder or wrapper is produced. 3.Method as claimed in claim 2, in which the side edges are heated afterthe strip has been joined to the spine and has solidified.
 4. Method asclaimed in claim 2, in which a separate binder is applied to the sideedges of the strip before the side edges are united with the covers bypressing.
 5. Method as claimed in claim 2, in which the covers arepressed against the strip so that in the regions of their union with thestrip they will converge in a direction away from the spine and thatthis convergence is maintained even after the unification operation hasceased.
 6. Method as claimed in claim 2 in which the side edges of thestrip are bound to the covers adjacent the inner crease lines.
 7. Methodas claimed in claim 2, in which during the union of the side edges ofthe strip with the covers, the booklet is urged in the longitudinaldirection of the strip with the side edges being successively pressedalong their length against the covers for being united therewith, theside edges being pressed simultaneously and transverse their lengthagainst the covers for being united therewith.
 8. Method as claimed inclaim 2 in which during the union of the side edges of the strip withthe covers, the booklet is urged in the longitudinal direction of thestrip with the side edges being moved into a slot with a width somewhatexceeding that of the strip and the side edges being pressedsimultaneously and transverse their length against the covers for beingunited therewith.
 9. An apparatus for making a cover for a booklet, saidbooklet comprising two substantially parallel covers, connected to aspine at formed inner and outer pairs of crease lines, a strip of binderhaving two opposing longitudinal side edges and being arranged solelybetween the inner pair of crease lines, and a sheaf of sheets ofmaterial located between the covers, said apparatus comprising means foruniting two opposing longitudinal side edges of said binder strip withthe covers before a sheaf is inserted therebetween, said uniting meanscomprising activating means for activating substantially only the sideedges of the strip for adhesion and pressing means for pressing thecovers of the booklet against the side edges of the strip.
 10. Apparatusas claimed in claim 9, in which the activating means comprises meansthat maintains a binder at a minimum temperature for adhesion and coatsthe side edges with an additional layer of binder.
 11. Apparatus asclaimed in claim 10, in which the activating means comprises spray meansthat sprays a hot melt to form the binder at the minimum temperature foradhesion to connect the covers.
 12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9,in which the pressing means comprises fixed elements extending alongsubstantially the entire length of the strip, and forming between them agap, the width of which somewhat exceeds the width of the strip, andelements for inserting the booklet in the gap with the strip disposedsubstantially parallel to the gap.
 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9,in which the pressing means comprises pressure blocks substantiallyextending along the entire length of the strip, and means for moving atleast one of the blocks to and away from the other at an angle ofsubstantially 90° to the longitudinal direction of the strip. 14.Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the pressing means include atrough having walls defining a width approximately corresponding to thewidth of the strip, and drive means for moving the booklet through thetrough with the portions of covers adjacent side edges of the stripengaging against the walls of the trough.
 15. Apparatus as claimed inclaim 14, in which the drive means comprise drive rollers on either sideof the trough for engaging against the covers of the booklet at adistance spaced from said portions of the covers adjacent the side edgesof the strip, pairs of opposing rollers being situated at a distancefrom each other which is less than the width of the trough. 16.Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which the drive means comprisetraction belts on either side of the trough for engaging against thecovers of the booklet at a distance spaced from said portions of thecovers adjacent the side edges of the strip, the belts being situated ata distance from each other which is less than the width of the trough.